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Updated June 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

Anti-PD 1 Brain Collaboration + Radiotherapy Extension (ABC-X Study)

A Phase II, Open Label, Randomised, Controlled Trial of Ipilimumab and Nivolumab With Concurrent Intracranial Stereotactic Radiotherapy Versus Ipilimumab and Nivolumab Alone in Patients With Melanoma Brain Metastases.

Anti-PD 1 Brain Collaboration + Radiotherapy Extension (ABC-X Study) (NCT03340129) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Melanoma Stage Iv, sponsored by Melanoma Institute Australia. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

This is a phase II, open label, randomised trial of ipilimumab and nivolumab with concurrent intracranial stereotactic radiotherapy versus ipilimumab and nivolumab alone in patients with asymptomatic, untreated melanoma brain metastases.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Melanoma Stage Iv and continue monitoring side effects. Phase 2 enrolls larger groups (typically 100–300 patients) and produces the first real efficacy signal. A successful Phase 2 readout is what unlocks the much larger Phase 3 confirmatory trials needed for FDA approval.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

Target enrollment of 218 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Melanoma Stage Iv subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: 1. Female or male patients, ≥18 years of age. 2. Signed, written, willing to sign a consent form. 3. AJCC Stage IV \[any T, any N, M1d (0) or M1D(1)\] diagnosed by tissue sample (biopsy-confirmed) cutaneous, acral or mucosal unresectable melanoma or unknown primary melanoma and at least 1 radiological definitive brain metastasis that is ≥ 5mm and ≤40mm, measurable per RECIST version 1.1 guidelines (modified for brain metastases, enabling up to 5 target lesions in the brain as well as up to 5 extracranial target lesions). There is no upper limit restriction in the number of brain metastases, provided the remaining eligibility criteria are met. 4. The BRAF mutation status must be available prior to randomisation. 5. The treating clinician(s) should consider the intracranial disease amenable to stereotactic radiotherapy over whole brain radiotherapy. Patients for whom there is a definite and immediate indication for radiotherapy (e.g. rapidly progressing disease with associated clinical signs and /or symptoms) should not be considered for enrolment. 6. Brain metastases must be untreated with any modality of radiotherapy or systemic treatment. Previous surgery for melanoma brain metastases is permitted if it resulted in gross total resection and no radiotherapeutic cavity boost was required. ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Female or male patients, ≥18 years of age. 2. Signed, written, informed consent. 3. AJCC Stage IV \[any T, any N, M1d (0) or M1D(1)\] histologically confirmed cutaneous, acral or mucosal unresectable melanoma or unknown primary melanoma and at least 1 radiological definitive brain metastasis that is ≥ 5mm and ≤40mm, measurable per RECIST version 1.1 guidelines (modified for brain metastases, enabling up to 5 target lesions in the brain as well as up to 5 extracranial target lesions). There is no upper limit restriction in the number of brain metastases, provided the remaining eligibility criteria are met. 4. The BRAF mutation status must be available prior to randomisation. 5. The treating clinician(s) should consider the intracranial disease amenable to stereotactic radiotherapy over whole brain radiotherapy. Patients for whom there is a definite and immediate indication for radiotherapy (e.g. rapidly progressing disease with associated clinical signs and /or symptoms) should not be considered for enrolment. 6. Brain metastases must be untreated with any modality of radiotherapy or systemic treatment. Previous surgery for melanoma brain metastases is permitted if it resulted in gross total resection and no radiotherapeutic cavity boost was required. 7. No prior systemic treatment for brain metastases is permitted unless given in the neoadjuvant or adjuvant settings for systemic drug the treatment for extracranial disease only. At the time of neoadjuvant or adjuvant systemic therapy for extracranial disease, there should be radiological evidence of the absence of brain metastases. The presenting diagnosis of brain metastases at the time of enrolment in this study must have occurred a minimum of 6 months after stopping neoadjuvant or adjuvant systemic therapy (prior anti PD1, anti PD-L1, anti CTLA-4, BRAF / MEK inhibitors or clinical trial agents) are acceptable in the setting of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment 8. Asymptomatic from brain metastases at the time of study enrolment without corticosteroids, analgesia or any other treatment for the management of neurological symptoms (with the exception of antiepileptics prescribed for any reason, provided patient is asymptomatic). Resolved neurological symptoms are permitted if complete resolution, without any intervention, has been sustained for a minimum of 7 days prior to randomisation. 9. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status of 0-2. 10. A life expectancy \> 30 days. 11. Able to undergo MRI with Gadolinium contrast agent. CT of the brain is not an acceptable alternative should patients be unable to safely undergo a contrast MRI. 12. Adequate haematological, hepatic and renal organ function as defined by: 1. White cell count ≥ 2.0 × 10x9/L 2. Neutrophil count ≥ 1.5 × 10x9/L 3. Haemoglobin ≥ 90 g/L 4. Platelet count ≥ 100 x 10x9/L 5. Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN 6. Alanine transaminase ≤ 3.0 x ULN 7. Aspartate aminotransferase ≤ 3.0 x ULN 8. Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x the upper limit of normal (ULN). If serum creatinine is \> 1.5 x ULN, calculate creatinine clearance using standard Cockcroft-Gault formula. Creatinine clearance must be 40ml/min to be eligible. 13. Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 7 days of the first dose of study treatment and agree to use effective contraception from 14 days prior to commencing study treatment, throughout the treatment period and for 23 weeks \* after the last dose of study treatment. Effective contraception includes: 1. Intrauterine device with a documented failure rate of less than 1% per year. 2. Vasectomised partner who is sterile prior to the female partner patient's commencement of study treatment and is the sole sexual partner for that female. 3. Combined (oestrogen and progestogen) hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation or progestogen only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation. Women who are not of childbearing potential are defined as any female who has had a documented hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy or bilateral tubal ligation or any female who is post-menopausal (≥ one year without menses and \>50 years of age in the absence of hormone replacement therapy). \* These durations have been calculated using the upper limit of the half-life for nivolumab (25 days) and are based on the protocol requirement that WOCBP use contraception for 5 half-lives plus 30 days. Exclusion Criteria 1. Patients whose intracranial disease changes between the diagnostic MRI scan and the baseline / SRS planning MRI scan and who are no longer suitable for SRS and / or require a specific alternative treatment outside of this protocol. 2. Melanoma brain metastasis greater than 40mm. 3. Evidence of leptomeningeal disease, with the exception of pathological findings seen at a previous resection of brain disease, but with no evidence of leptomeningeal disease elsewhere at the time of resection or at study entry. 4. History of, or current ocular melanoma (patients with mucosal and acral melanoma are eligible). 5. Neurological symptoms from brain metastases present at baseline (resolved neurological symptoms, prior to enrolment, are permitted). 6. Prior radiotherapy to the brain (surgery permitted). 7. Prior systemic drug therapy for melanoma, unless given in the neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting and completed 6 months before enrolment in this study. 8. Patients with active, known or suspected autoimmune disease. Patients with the following are permitted to enrol: 1. Vitiligo 2. Type I diabetes mellitus 3. Residual hypothyroidism due to an autoimmune condition only requiring hormone replacement 4. Psoriasis not requiring systemic treatment 5. Autoimmune conditions not expected to recur in the absence of an external trigger. 9. Current systemic treatment with corticosteroids, or within 7 days of randomisation, with the exception of prednisone at non-immunosuppressive doses of ≤ 10 mg/day (or equivalent, e.g. e.g. prednisone 10mg = dexamethasone 1.6mg = hydrocortisone 40mg). Patients with the following circumstances are permitted to enrol: 1. Past treatment for non-neurological symptoms allowed, if this was ceased 7 days prior to randomisation 2. Inhaled or intranasal corticosteroids (with minimal systemic absorption) may be continued if the patient is on a stable dose 3. Non-absorbed intra-articular steroid injections. During the study, treatment with systemic corticosteroids is permitted during radiotherapy if the patient experiences radiation related symptoms but this should be tapered per standard clinical practice as soon as possible and before the next infusion of study drug is due. This also refers to steroids for drug related signs or symptoms. 10. Any active infection requiring treatment. 11. A history of interstitial lung disease. 12. Any concurrent malignancy requiring any treatment or a history of another malignancy, unless the patient has been disease-free for 3 years. 13. Serious or unstable pre-existing medical conditions or other conditions that could interfere with the patient's safety, consent, or compliance. 14. Pregnant or breastfeeding females. 15. Administration of any form of live vaccine within 30 days of starting the trial and during the trial. Administration of any other vaccine is cautionary within 30 days of starting the trial and for the duration of the treatment phase of the trial. 16. Hypersensitivy to study treatments.

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Ipilimumab

Ipilimumab 3mg per kg every 3 weeks for 4 doses

DRUG

Nivolumab

Nivolumab 1mg/kg every 3 weeks for 4 doses, then 480mg every 4 weeks.

RADIATION

Stereotactic Radiotherapy

The first dose of immunotherapy Must be given prior to the start of radiotherapy. One fraction at between 16 to 22 Gy or 24 to 30 Gy hypofractionated for larger lesions.

OTHER

Salvage therapy

Any form of salvage therapy (surgery or radiotherapy) for intracranial disease progression, further disease control at any site, symptom control or treatment of cerebral haemorrhage or cerebral radionecrosis.

Locations (9)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

Westmead Hospital
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Calvary Mater NewcastleHospital
Waratah, New South Wales, Australia
Melanoma Institute Australia
Wollstonecraft, New South Wales, Australia
Princess Alexandra Hospital
Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
Royal Adelaide Hospital
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Alfred Hospital
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Sir Charles Gairdner Hosptial
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Oslo Univesity Hospital Radiumhospitalet
Oslo, Oslo, Norway

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT03340129), the sponsor (Melanoma Institute Australia), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT03340129 clinical trial studying?

This is a phase II, open label, randomised trial of ipilimumab and nivolumab with concurrent intracranial stereotactic radiotherapy versus ipilimumab and nivolumab alone in patients with asymptomatic, untreated melanoma brain metastases. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT03340129?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT03340129?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT03340129. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT03340129. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-06-26 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.